Liberal Party Negros Occidental chairman Manuel Escalante said yesterday that the LP has no official candidate for mayor of Bacolod, as both mayoral candidates Rep. Evelio Leonardia and Mayor Monico Puentevella are supporting the presidential bid of Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo.

He said the only time the LP would consider supporting a specific mayoral bet is if the other opts to support another candidate, which is not the case now.

Escalante said he sees Vice Mayor Jejomar Binay as the closest competitor to Mar Roxas in the final stretch of the campaign.

Meanwhile, former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela yesterday reiterated that he has not resigned as head of the Friends of Mar and Leni, the private-sector group campaigning for the tandem in Negros Occidental, amid persistent rumors that all is not well.

Coscolluela said he is continuing to campaign for Roxas and Robredo, and is not quitting. The only way that will happen is if they fire him, he said.

He said they are just ironing out budgetary and coordination concerns for the campaign.*CPG